Rifle Scope Mounting System

ABSTRACT

Provided is a system for mounting a scope to a gun barrel, the barrel including a slot for mounting a factory sight. The system includes a mounting member configured for attachment to the barrel, the mounting member including one or more openings for placement of a bolt therethrough. The bolt is configured to secure attachment of the mounting member to the barrel. The bolt includes a head portion and a fastening portion, the head portion haying a shape configured for coupling to the slot of the barrel.

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to firearms. In particular, the present invention relates to firearm sight mounts and systems.

II. Background of the Invention

As understood by those of skill in the art, rifle scopes are an essential element in any shooting system. Most firearms, especially rifles, are now manufactured with mechanisms for mounting a scope. Many older rifles, although including a rear sight mount, were not manufactured to accommodate the mounting of a scope. Although these older rifles remain perfectly functional, their use is limited by their inability to accommodate the mounting and use of a scope.

Mounting a scope on these older rifles can be challenging, especially when these older rifles may have special value or be antiques. For example, one conventional approach to mounting a scope on a rifle not equipped with a scope mount includes drilling a hole in, and tapping the barrel of the rifle. This approach, even if successful, can ultimately damage the rifle and decrease its value.

III. Summary of the Invention

Given the aforementioned deficiencies, a need exists for improved methods and systems of mounting scopes to rifles manufactured without a scope mounting system, without the need for drilling or tapping of the rifle. More particularly, a need exists for methods and systems that facilitate mounting a scope using the original factory sight.

Under certain circumstances, an embodiment of the present invention includes a system for mounting a scope to a gun barrel, the barrel including a slot for mounting a factory sight. The system includes a mounting member configured for attachment to the barrel, the mounting member including one or More openings for placement of a bolt therethrough. The bolt is configured to secure attachment of the mounting member to the barrel. The bolt includes a head portion and a fastening portion, the head portion having a shape being configured for coupling to the slot of the barrel.

Embodiments of the present invention include a scope mounting system that utilizes rear sight mount, that exists on the barrel of most rifles, as an anchor point. The scope mounting system is constructed to align itself with the barrel regardless of whether the barrel is round, hexagonal, or some other shape. By way of example, this system can use a mechanism such as a wood dowel pin or a brass punch.

A user can tap the rear sight in a sideways manner for removal. For use, the bolt can be slid into the original factory slot provided, for mounting of the sight, on the barrel. For example, the user can set the mount over the bolt in the barrel. A fastening nut can be placed thereon, and tightened, to secure the mounting system. At this stage, scope rings can be affixed to the mount, and the scope placed in rings per manufacturers specifications.

Further features and advantages, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only.

Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein,

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a rifle mounting system constructed and arranged in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an exemplary illustration of a slot along the surface of the barrel illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration of a bolting mechanism used in the exemplary system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the bolting mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG, 4 is an illustration of an exemplary fastener for use with the mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 an illustration of an exemplary scope mount constructed and arranged in accordance with the embodiments;

FIG. 6 is an illustration depicting alignment of the mounting chambers shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view illustration of the exemplary scope mount of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view illustration of the mounting chambers shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an end view of an exemplary octagonal barrel having the mounting system of FIG. 5 affixed thereto; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an exemplary isometric view of the mounting system illustrated in FIG. 9.

The present invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various process operations and arrangements of process operations. The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which, like reference numerals may indicate corresponding or similar parts in the various figures. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the novel aspects of the present invention should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention is described herein with illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the invention would be of significant utility.

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by OM of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, as used herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Also, the terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The term “or” is meant to be inclusive and mean either, any, several, or all of the listed items.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration of a rifle mounting system 100 constructed and arranged in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes a barrel 102 of a rifle (not shown). Although the barrel 102 is octagonally shaped, the barrel 102 can be cylindrically shaped, square, or other, all of which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the exemplary barrel 102 includes a substantially flat portion 103 representing a location of where a standard factory metal sight was originally placed. A bore 104 represents an interior portion of the barrel 102 from where a projectile, such as a bullet, would exit the rifle when the rifle is fired.

A back sight 106, mounted in a slot 110 of the barrel 102. In the example of FIG. 1, the back sight 106 is partially slid out of position for porposes of illustration and the slot 110 is dove tail shaped. FIG. 1A provides a more detailed illustration of the slot 110 discussed above.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration of a bolting mechanism (i.e., scope mount) 200 used in the exemplary rifle mounting system 100 of FIG. 1. An exemplary bolt 202 is used to affix a mounting plate to the rifle barrel 101 The exemplary bolt 202 includes a mounting portion 203 and a dove tail bolt head 204 to fit into the dove tail slot 110 of the rifle barrel 102.

The mounting portion 203 can include a screw, nail body, or other device configured for being embedded in a workpiece to facilitate a secure attachment. Although the bolt head 204 in the slot 110 are both dovetail shaped, many other varieties and shapes of slots and bolt heads can be used, as understood by those of skill in the art.

FIGS. 3 and 4 provide more detailed illustrations of the exemplary bolt 201 including a mounting portion 202 and the bolt head 204. In FIG. 3, and as discussed above, the bolt head 204 is constructed in a shape that conforms to the the shape of the original slot containing the factory sight for the rifle barrel 102. Thus, the dovetail bolt head 204 is constructed to easily slide into the originally manufactured slot 110 of the rifle barrel 102.

FIG. 5 is a more detailed illustration of the exemplary scope mount 200 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The scope mount 200 can be constructed of variety of materials well known to those of skill in the art. As shown in FIG. 5, the scope mount 200 includes a top plate 200 a and a bottom plate 200 b. In the embodiments, the top plate 200 a is manufactured to match manufactured scope rings (not shown). Additionally, the top plate 200 a can be of variable lengths, as necessary to match the gun.

A space (S) is formed to align the bottom plate 200 b with the barrel 102. Although the space (S) depicted in FIG. 5 is V-shaped defining and an angle (θ), the space (S) can vary in shapes (e.g., U-shaped) and sizes sufficient to create alignment and a tight fit between the bottom plate 200 b and the barrel 102.

The bottom plate 200 b also includes openings 500 (a-d) formed to accommodate insertion of the bolt 202. A user can select which of the openings openings 500 (a-d) permit the scope mount 202 to be positioned at a location location most suitable for the user's preference. The scope rings, however, can be placed anywhere on the mounting plate 200.

FIG. 6 is the top view illustration of the scope mount 200, illustrating a top view of openings 500 (a-d). Spacings between the openings 500 (a-d) and between opening 500 a and an edge 600 are defined by distances D1-D4, respectively. Other distances can be used in would be within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary illustration of an end view of the scope mount 200 showing the space (S), in accordance with the embodiments. A width (W) of the top plate part 200 is selected to be sufficiently large such that the scope rings will fit properly. FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration depicting a side view of the openings 500 (a-d).

FIG. 9 is an exemplary end view of the octagonally shaped barrel 102 viewing from an end of the bore 104. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the scope mount 200 is a fixed atop the barrel 102 via the mounting portion 202 of the bolt 201. A nut 900 suitably matched to the screw 202 to can be use to secure the scope mount 200 to the barrel 102, as shown. Additionally, FIG. 9 depicts a snug fit 902 and close alignment between the bottom plate 200 b of the scope mount 200 and the barrel 102.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary isometric illustration of the scope mount 200 affixed to a cylindrically barrel 1000, in accordance with the embodiments. In FIG. 10, the exemplary dove tail shaped bolt 204 connects the scope mount 200 to the bottom plate 200 b, aligning the bottom plate 200 b with the cylindrically shaped rifle barrel 1000.

The embodiments of the present invention simplify affixing a rifle scope with a rifle barrel when a mount, such as the scope mount 200, is aligned with the barrel. The embodiments facilitate easily attaching the scope mount (e.g., for mounting a scope) to a rifle, or any other gun. In this manner, scopes can be mounted to older or vintage weapons, without damaging the weapon or depreciating its value.

Alternative embodiments, examples, and modifications which would still be encompassed by the invention may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Further, it should be understood that the terminology used to describe the invention is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the preferred and alternative embodiments described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

We claim:
 1. A system for mounting a scope to a gun barrel, the barrel including a slot for mounting a factory sight, the system comprising: a mounting member configured for attachment to the barrel, the mounting member including one or more openings for placement of a bolt therethrough, the bolt being configured to secure attachment of the mounting member to the barrel; wherein the bolt includes a head portion and a fastening portion, the head portion having a shape configured for coupling to the slot of the barrel.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting member includes a top plate, and a bottom plate.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the bottom plate attaches to the barrel and the top plate attaches to the scope.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the shape of the head portion is complementary to a shape of the slot.
 5. A bolt for attaching a scope mounting system to a rifle barrel, the barrel including a slot for mounting a factory sight, the boll comprising; a bolt-bead formed of a shape complementary to a shape of the slot; wherein the bolt-head is configured to facilitate coupling of the bolt head to the slot.
 6. The bolt of claim 5, wherein the scope mounting system is configured for attaching to a fastening portion of the bolt.
 7. The bolt of claim 6, wherein the fastening portion includes at least one from the group including a screw and a nail body.
 8. The bolt of claim 5, wherein the system includes a mounting member configured for attachment to the barrel, the mounting member including one or more openings for placement of the bolt therethrough.
 9. The bolt of claim 5, wherein the bolt-head has a dove tail shape.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the shape of the head portion is dove tailed. 